Review: Johnson's Daily Essentials Gentle Eye Make-Up Removal Pads

I've been on the hunt for an inexpensive eye makeup remover that doesn't sting my eyes or give that uncomfortable cloudy feeling that needs a good rinse and several hundred blinks to get rid of. I ventured into Simple products, great for the no stinging but I still got cloudy peepers. Until I found these, I stuck with good old fashioned baby wipes but didn't like that sometimes, when I'd been particularly heavy handed with the eyeliner I'd have to scrub and it would mean sore, raw patches in the corners of my eyes. Not ideal when you're trying (ok, half trying) to look fresh faced and awake for work, especially as concealer refused to stay on!

I nipped into Tescos one evening to buy some broccoli *cough doublechocolatefudgeicecream* and saw a load of Johnson's skincare products were on offer at 2 for £4 so I picked up a tub of these and some face wash for the fella (he's got very picky skin, but I like to use him to test products) and whilst the face wash only mildly impressed (great for everyday, mild exfoliation for combo/dry skin - does nothing if you've got problem or oily skin) these pads were an absolute gem.



You get 30 pads in a tub and one is easily enough to remove even the heaviest makeup on both eyes, though it does say to use one for each, I just turn it over. I gently swipe downwards, open my eyes and gently swipe side to side and it loosens and removes all my eye makeup. It does require a quick going over with a baby wipe or a quick rinse as it does smudge very heavy product but it gets it all off with no irritation whatsoever.

The fragrance is minimal and is pleasant and while the moisture it gives the eyes is in my opinion insufficient, it's nice not to feel like your lashline is sticking to the hood of your eye halfway through your cleansing routine. Absolutely keep using an eye cream. I've noticed my lashes are shinier (?) too.

I highly recommend these pads and I've already repurchased while they're still on offer. I've tried a dozen eye makeup removers from Lancome to Superdrug's own brand and this kicks them all off my bathroom shelf.

Review: Simple Spotless Skin Quick Fix Cleansing Wipes

Simple Spotless Skin Quick Fix Cleansing Wipes

£3.05 for 25 wipes

On a recent stay away from home, I'd realised I'd forgotten my trusty baby wipes so picked these up for easy makeup removal and cleansing. At a touch over 3 quid for 25, they're not badly priced but they're no pound for 80!



These wipes, like all Simple products contain no perfumes, colour or unnecessary ingredients. They do however contain spot fighting/calming ingredients. 3 of them in fact. Zinc, Chamomile and Phytosphingosine. The wipes themselves are smooth to use, don't sting (even when used over the eyes) and remove makeup very well. Even with a soft texture, they gently slough away dead skin cells and provide a smooth, exfoliated feel after use.

As for spot fighting, I think these made little difference to my skin. Simple Spotless Skin Quick Fix Cleansing Wipes do the same job as my regular cleanser and makeup remover but nothing above that. I'll continue to use them when I need a convenient, quick makeup remover and will certainly be repurchasing!

Review: New CID Cosmetics Eyes Lips & Cheeks Palette

New CID Cosmetics Eyes, Lips & Cheeks Palette

£24



I picked up this palette for a bargainous £12 on ASOS.com. Like I've said before, I rarely buy palettes where powder and cream/gel products are mixed. This palette has the shadows in a separate compartment to the lipsticks, gloss and blush. Not overly keen on the blush and lip products being mixed but I think I'll find myself using the eyeshadows much more often as they are just divine!





4 wearable, neutral colours. Three shimmers, one mid-tone matte brown perfect for brows, contour and liner. You've got a lovely, shimmery champagne colour to highlight and brighten, a mid-tone shimmery brown and a dark mocha shimmery brown. Each eyeshadow has wonderful colour payoff, all blend well and are easy to use. The two lip colours and gloss aren't ones I'd choose for myself but it's nice that they're there. I'd imagine they'd double up well as cream blushes but I've yet to try that. The blush is a blue toned pink and isn't something I'd usually choose for myself but is pretty all the same. It's flattering with a hint of silver shimmer.





Despite being an all-in-one palette, I don't think it's particularly travel friendly purely because of its size. It's generously sized - the eyeshadows are huge! - so not ideal to lug around with you if you like a compact makeup kit when you travel, so it's great to have on standby when your brain stops working on Monday morning and you still want to create an easy, flattering neutral eye.

Packaging is sleek, rigid cardboard with a strong magnetic closure. The drawer that the lip colour and blush is in does fall out quite easily though - again not making it ideal for secure travel.

I would definitely have paid full price for the palette and I'm so happy I striked lucky and picked it up for just over a tenner. I'm looking to branch out and try a few more products from the brand. Any recommendations?

Review: e.l.f. Bamboo Brushes & Studio Stipple Brush

Quite a while ago, I ordered a few brushes from e.l.f. I'd been using a number of their regular range and Studio Line brushes for just over a year and thought that they were good quality for their price point. Seeing the new Bamboo Brushes and knowing how soft and lovely my Studio Complexion Brush was, I ordered the Powder Brush. Having a thing for angled brushes, I chose the Angled Blush Brush as well. I noticed the Studio Stipple Brush was still in stock so quickly popped one of those into my basket and paid up.



These brushes are all an absolute pleasure and a dream to use. All soft, all pick up and deposit the perfect amount of product and all easy to clean, economic and best of all - each brush is produced using man made fibres (Taklon). The Bamboo Brushes are made of recycled materials too.



The Powder Brush is large, fluffy and perfect for applying loose powder quickly and evenly. I use it for pressed powder as well. The brush is also fantastic for blending out and diffusing colour when I get too blush-happy.



The Angled Blush Brush is beautiful and I love me a multi-purpose product or brush. It's perfectly sized to use as a blush brush, tilt it slightly to use with a highlighter or lay on its side to contour with bronzer.



The Studio Stipple Brush is not as dense as many duo-fibre brushes I've used but it's a nice size unless you plan to use it for foundation. I like my foundation brushes to be big (I use a MAC 189, e.l.f. Studio Powder Brush or my fingers) so this one wouldn't quite cut it. Though I did try it once and found it gave a nice finish. I love this brush for cream or gel blushes.

Each brush sits well in the hand and is comfortable to use whilst looking stylish and above their price range. I would highly recommend the Bamboo range!

Have you used any e.l.f. brushes? What are your thoughts? Any winners I'm missing out on?

I hope you're all well, I hope to be back and posting more often from now on!

Review: Toni & Guy Dark Brunette Shampoo + Conditioner

I've had red tinted brown hair for years. No matter how many times I try to get it back to my natural colour (medium, almost light brown) it never goes ashy enough. This is a result of dying my hair an obnoxiously bright red in my mid-teens. I gave up on getting it to a true brown again so I ended up dying my hair red-brown for the remainder of my teens and into the first couple years of my 20's (with a few colour experiments thrown in). Last year, I decided I was going to get my natural hair colour back. I set out on a mission to first bring the muted, ashy tone back then to return it to the correct shade. Nothing worked. Dyes soon faded, colour stripping only helped minimally and nothing short of chopping 3/4 of my hair off would've worked. On a whim, I bought Toni & Guy Dark Brunette Shampoo & Conditioner. At 5.69 each, they're not a bargain but certainly not as wallet crippling as others on the market.



Packaging: Chic, pretty, modern...but utterly impractical for the shower. There's a cap, then there's a pop open dispenser which needs lots of squeezing and shaking to get any product out after a couple of uses. I don't have enough hands or time to be fiddling around with the packaging. I've resorted to completely removing the dispenser and dealing with possible wastage.

The shampoo can be compared to a shimmery tanning product in appearance and the conditioner looks like chocolate mousse. When you rinse your hair clean, the water turns a yellowy brown so just warn anyone you might be showering with...you know?

First wash, I liked the products. My hair was smooth and I did notice it was a little darker and less "red". I'm not a fan of the smell of any Toni & Guy products but it's not overly offensive. Second wash, my hair started to feel weighed down and coated in an almost sticky substance. I put it down to perhaps my hair just getting used to the new products but later realised it was the product itself...and I didn't like it. After getting used to Pantene Aqua Light, this actually made me it feel like my scalp was being tugged on! Both products contain olive oil and are incredibly hydrating but I don't think I love the results enough to deal with the weight of my hair and that odd, almost waxy coating. It's thick enough as it is. I'll continue to use both products until they're gone but won't be repurchasing.

Like the look of the results, but not the feel - certainly not for the price.

Have any of you tried any Toni & Guy products? What are your thoughts?

Review: Lush Cinders Bath Ballistic

Cinders is something I had high hopes for. I love the scent, I adore the look of the bath bomb and the idea of it is great. However, it really let me down.

Shock, horror! Finally a Lush product I'm not in love with.



What Lush say:

"If the slipper fits...

Once upon a time, it seems like everyone fell in love with Cinders last year, so we had to invite her back for Christmas. Bathing with Cinders is like falling asleep in front of a log fire and hearing the crackling embers as the snow falls down.

It must be Cinders!

Warming cinnamon, refreshing sweet orange and almond essential oils will make your day every time you have a bath. Use with Glögg shower gel for a warming bath-time cocktail that will feel like the cold is far, far away"

You can certainly pick up the cinnamon in this. The almond is a sweet after scent and the only orange I picked up from this is the colour but that's alright - I love almond and cinnamon and they compliment each other beautifully.

While the scent is lovely, unfortunately my overall bath experience with Cinders was not so incredible. The pop rocks - awesome idea but not so well executed. They weren't painful per se but they seem to be attracted to your skin and pop which gives a pinching sensation - not pleasant when you're trying to have a relaxing bath and you've got these things in the last place you'd want 'em! After all this - I got out, drained the bath and enjoyed how lovely my bathroom smelled then noticed a bright orange ring around the bath. It had stained it. Having to scrub the bath after finally managing to relax isn't ideal.

One huge plus for me was the sound the bath bomb made when plopped in. It sounded just like a sizzling, crackling fire! Only for a few seconds before it sunk down to the bottom of the tub though...

3/10 Lush. 3/10...

Mini Review: Sleek Sparkle Palette

This is Mistletoe on its own. You can see the glitter (or lack thereof) is unevenly distributed despite blending. I think that as a palette - minus the glitter - it's quite nice in terms of colour and of course pigmentation like all Sleek shadows. However, if I'm rating this as a glitter palette like it intends to be - it's a 2/10.

It doesn't bother me (so much) that the glitter falls off straight away - it's more that some remains when applied and it ends up looking unintentional. Like you've accidentally picked up a little bit of glitter on a brush and used the brush to blend your edges and now you can't get the glitter off without starting your makeup from scratch!

If anyone has any tips on how to make this work, please share!

Review: Lush Christmas Eve Bubble Bar

I'm slowly working my way through my stash of Lush's Christmas goodies. I managed to fit in one bath last week and the weekend has been bath-free! I've showered...of course.



What Lush say:

"The Night Before

Escape from seasonal stresses with a soothing, deep blue, floral bubble bath. Irish moss powder forms a soothing, softening gel in the beautifully blue water; the floral and sensual scents of jasmine and ylang ylang are relaxing, and the oils are good for caring for sensitive skins.

Relaxing Blue Bubble Bar

On the night before Christmas, all through your house, if everybody is stirring and making you grouse, run yourself a Christmas Eve bubble bath and watch your troubles to float away.

Irish Moss Powder

When it comes into contact with the hot bath water, Irish moss powder forms a gel-like solution in the water, which is very soothing."



We all know I fawn all over floral scents and this bubble bar made me react no differently. It's smooth, silky and beautifully fragranced. Not overpowering, but not subtle in any way; the Christmas Eve bubble bar doesn't offer the traditional scents of Christmas with Ylang Ylang, Jasmine and Gardenia; but more the feeling of Christmas Eve - when you want to be relaxed, pampered and prepared for the next day's festivities. When crumbled under running water, you are greeted with a mass of bubbles and relaxing (I think anyway...) murky, deep blue water. I know some won't like a cold bathroom, but I quite like it when I've got the window open a tad and the hot bath steams in the cold air. The water felt smooth as did my skin once I'd pulled myself out of the bath (after several hot water top ups I might add) and I felt loosened up and ready to finish chilling out in bed with a copy of War and Peace *cough* heat magazine.

Christmas Eve bubble bar is a welcome break from Lush's 2010 Christmas goodies, most of which have been based around Christmas treats (food) and/or sickly sweet (which I also love!) - and one I'm sure will return again next year! This was one of my favourites from last year and I'm very happy it's back. Either way, I'll be picking up a couple and locking them up in a baggie for later next year.

I'm quite aware that my reviews have been heavily Lush based! If anyone has any review requests of products they've seen in my hauls or (sort of) collection post, please feel free to email me, leave a comment, Tweet me etc. I'm always very pleased to hear from people! It doesn't have to be a review request either!

I hope you're all keeping well and enjoying the run up to Christmas. What are your plans this year? I'm heading off to spend a week with John's mum and brother. Lots of fluffy blankets, pillows, food, fire and TV!

Review: Marc Jacobs Basil

This is my first fragrance review. Feel free to spit and laugh. I'm absolutely rubbish at describing scents that aren't bang in your face but will try my very best!



This scent has to be one of my favourites for this time of year. Described as a summer fragrance, it's refreshing amongst the autumnal heady florals. I bought this back in August and quite honestly barely touched it until a couple of weeks ago. John used it on and off but decided it wasn't for him and it slowly slid to the back of my fragrance drawer.

The packaging is clean and chic; a plain, clear glass bottle with a black glossy cap and simple labelling. This bottle is a whopping 300ml meaning it will last forever! I've been using this for at least 3 weeks straight and it has barely gone down. It is priced at £43 but I picked it up for £17.99 at TK Maxx. Nice!

Lifted from the post I first mentioned this in:

It's a clean unisex fragrance with top notes of tomato leaf, lemon and basil, middle notes of orange blossom, freesia and jasmine and base notes of sandalwood, musk and cashmere wood. Now I don't know what any of that means, I just know that I like it. Though I do think it might be weird that John and I will smell the same on certain days. I think he'll be using this a lot more than I will as it's a slightly more masculine fragrance - and I'm more than happy for him to. It is after all, a huuuge bottle.

I still stand by this. I love its masculinity. I love the strong woody base, the lighter fruity notes. I love the way it sits on my skin and develops throughout the day. It's one of those fragrances that evolves as you wear it. It starts out strong, with the earthy notes coming out first. At around lunchtime, you're left with a light fruity, herby scent which lasts until teatime when most will choose another fragrance for evening. I now realise that I not only like my men to have perfect timing, but my perfumes too.

Review: Lush Karma Bubble Bar

I haven't ever brought anything home from the Karma range at Lush, despite it being their most popular scent. How stupid do I feel now huh?

What Lush say:

"Our signature in bubbles.

Our signature fragrance for bath-time: oranges and multi-layered spices. Karma is a fragrance that keeps on giving. Each time you catch a whiff of its layered fragrance you notice yet another thread in its multi-stranded personality.

Trippy Karma fragrance.

Karma bubble bar was created so that customers could enjoy a hot bubble bath with our signature fragrance.

Pine oil

Aromatherapists use it to clear the mind and for its cleansing and antiseptic qualities.

Elemi oil

Elemi oil is used throughout our range of Karma products for its unique aroma and skin conditioning properties."

Karma is fantastic for those who enjoy clean, sweet citrus scents. This bubble bar is moisturising, smells absolutely gorgeous and creates a mountain of bubbles!

Strangely enough I really enjoy the patchouli scent and combined with the orange and pine, it comes out clean and slightly masculine. Karma bubble bar is yet another one of those Lush products that permeates throughout your entire house so it's fantastic when you can't be bothered to do the dishes.

I'll for sure, be repurchasing. It's an uplifting product that softly cuddles you in the bath and leaves your skin soft and fragrant. Adding the perfume to my wishlist too!

Review: Lush Li'l Lush Pud

One of my favourite Lush Christmas offerings. I stocked up on these last Christmas! I plan on doing the same this year.



What Lush say:

"It May Be Li'l, But It's No Pudding

Our li'l version of a traditional Christmas pudding grows more popular every year. The fragrance of our pud will instantly make you hungry for a figgy pudding. Although this is a ballistic, it contains many of the things you'll find in your Christmas dessert.

Bath Time Dessert

The Pud is one of our most soothing ballistics. It's made with aloe vera extract to nurture dry or rough skin and add a brown colour to the little bomb

Cloves

Cloves are spicy and have a mild analgesic effect. We use powdered clove to add spice to our fizzing figgy pudding.

Powdered lemon peel

Powdered lemon peel and clove add both sweetness and spice, giving you the full pudding experience right there in your bathroom."

The reason why I love this product so much is not because of how adorable it looks - perfect stocking filler by the way! - but because of how lovely it smells and how moisturising it is despite its small size. When you slip into the bath, you're surrounded by sweet, spicy, warm water that brings about the essence of Christmas. Food, family, fun. You feel your belly warming, your back relaxing and your lips curling up at the sides. The only downside I'd say, is the colour. It turns your bath water into a browny yellow colour which can only be compared to something that should probably (though I hear incredible stories about its properties) never be mentioned on a beauty blog.

When you get out of the bath, reach for your towel warming on the radiator and wrap it around yourself, it's easy to feel why I love this so much. Your skin is soft and your head is clear, ready for a night of dreaming about what Boots will bring you for Christmas *cough* Givenchy Ange ou Demon Le Secret *cough* and what delicious warm drink you'll have waiting for you once you curl up on the sofa in front of the telly.

I highly recommend this one. If you've tried it, let me know what you think!

Review: Lush Winter Bath Ballistic

This evening I decided to stay in. Yes, it's a Friday night but we're still in the middle of saving money plus I'll be honest with you; I just don't know many people in London. When I stay in, I relax with a bath and a Dexter marathon. This evening, Winter Bath was picked from my Lush drawer. These are my thoughts on this product.



What Lush say:

"Creamy Spice Bath

Everyone needs a good, hot winter bath every once in a while to keep the cold at bay, but they can dry your skin out if they are too hot. That's where we step in with our Winter Bath ballistic

Soya Milk

This ballistic is actually made with a little of our bath melt mixture, too, to keep skin moisturised. We've also mixed in some soothing, softening soya milk powder, which disperses in the water to create a milky bath

Ginger

Ginger has traditionally been used in ancient remedies as a way of stimulating and warming the skin, as well as improving circulation.

Inspired by Noriko

Noriko and Mark worked on this one together, taking inspiration from Japanese bathing traditions. There are spicy ginger oils and clove bud to warm your body and get your circulation pumping again. You'll be hot blooded again in no time."

I do like this ballistic, but I don't love it. It smells pleasant; soothing and calming, but I didn't feel as moisturised as I thought I would be. I'm used to bubble bars and bath ballistics making the water silky smooth. Whilst my bath water appeared milky (a sort of light milky turquoise) it didn't feel it.

I could certainly smell the ginger, it was the first scent that hit me. This is a very earthy ballistic so if you're into sweet smells, I'd steer clear. Next I noticed how lovely my muscles felt. Very relaxed and loose. I'd imagine this would be fantastic for when you've got the flu.

This is probably totally irrelevant but this bath ballistic fizzed much slower than any other I've used before and didn't dissolve completely. It left a piece about the size of a Malteser. It was actually quite nice not to see it rushing around the bath!

Have you bought and tried any of the Christmas products this year? What are your must haves? I recently received Christmas Eve and Lil Lush Pud. Both are amazing products!

Photo from Lush.co.uk

Review: Sleek Bad Girl Palette

Sleek MakeUp Bad Girl Palette



L-R: Innocence, Gullible, Blade, Gun Metal, Underground, Noir
Intoxicated, Envy, Obnoxious, Abyss, Twilight, Rebel



Look using Innocence, Gullible and Abyss.

Excuse the transfer under my eye. There's a lack of concealer and primer here!

I know I only purchased this today but I feel that because I have a few other Sleek palettes, I'd be alright giving a fair review of this product as it is mostly based on the colours.

A bit about Sleek palettes: Priced at £5.99 and including 12 mineral based eyeshadows, Sleek palettes are not only fabulous quality but fantastic value for money at a pinch under 50p a shadow. The eyeshadows tend to be shimmery but a few palettes include matte and satin finishes as well. Pigmentation is phenomenal and in my opinion rivals Shu Uemura's (and we all know I'm a Shu Superfan) - and that's saying something. Application is buttery soft, the shadows are easily blendable and wear well. The only downside is I find I get quite a lot of fallout with these shadows but it's nothing that would stop me from buying them.

The Sleek Bad Girl palette is one half of their latest offering. The other half is the Sleek Good Girl palette which I feel is not something too many people would be interested in unless they're Sleek collectors or plan on using it as a blush palette as it's full of gorgeous pinks and corals. This time, the shades have names! Unfortunately the names are not printed anywhere on the palette except for the plastic protective insert which I usually throw away but won't this time.

I've got to say that the Sleek Bad Girl palette is my favourite so far with the Graphite palette coming in a very close second. It holds a selection of wearable smokey colours that suit any eye colour or skintone. I'm a sucker for a good purple shadow and the purples and blues are my favourite shades in the Bad Girl palette. Check out Twilight! Gorgeous.

Did you manage to get your beautiful mitts on this today? Do you plan on getting it?

Review: Lush Calavera Bath Ballistic

While I relaxed with some quality time with the TV and a cup of tea, John had a bath with the limited edition Calavera bath ballistic yesterday which symbolises the Day of the Dead festival. Here's his review.



What Lush say:

"When Jack reinvented the bath ballistic, he came up with this spooky bomb that symbolised the Day of the Dead festival. He used marigold petals to give it an authentic feel and gave it a kick with essential oil pressed from the juicy lime, a Mexican favourite with food and alcohol.

Calavera changes colour and looks like a magical, eerie celebration in the water – just like the extraordinary celebrations that happen in Mexico. Stock up while you can, it won’t be around forever.

Lime oil has a sharp, fresh, zesty scent. As with all citrus fruit, this fragrant oil is considered a top note, which means it evaporates first and it is therefore the first note that your olfactory system picks out of a blend."

When I first got into the bath I noticed a strong citrusy smell which was prominent but not overpowering. My number one thing was that it didn't smell of toilet cleaner which many citrusy products can do. When it came to washing myself, I found the little flower petals were quite annoying as they stuck to my skin and wouldn't come off without scratching them off. However, this was not a huge issue as I felt clean and my skin didn't feel tight but felt moisturised. Overall I felt very relaxed during and after my bath.

Photo from Lush.

Review: Lush Gingerbread House Bubble Bar

For Christmas 2010, Lush have brought out this beautifully scented, adorable little bubble bar. I couldn't appreciate how lovely and spicy it smelled until I got home. It takes roughly 2 and a half minutes for scent fatigue to kick in when I'm in Lush. 1 1/2 minutes spent chatting to the sales assistants when I walk in leaves me a minute to sniff things until it all just meshes into that lovely aroma you smell walking past a Lush store.

This is Gingerbread House bubble bar. So cute! Who wouldn't want this in their stocking?



Lush say:

"A Bath You Won't ReGretel

Christmas is a confectioner's dream, especially with our Gingerbread House Bubble Bar. It is sweetly spiced like fresh gingerbread and there's no wicked witch in sight, nor any sign of Hansel or Gretel eating her out of house and home.

Ginger

Powdered ginger is the dried, ground rhizome. As an ingredient, it stimulates and warms, and adds a mild cleansing action to the bath.

Warming Ginger

Its fragrance is a combination of distilled citrus oils, hints of blackcurrant and a spicy shot of ginger. Powdered ginger will warm your entire body as you soak, so there's no chance of Jack getting his frosty digits on you for long!

Buchu

Buchu oil adds fruity blackcurrant notes to a perfume blend, adding to the refreshingly sweet smell of the Bubble Bar."



The bubble bar itself is so cute it breaks your heart to crumble it up and see it froth into a mountain of bubbles and steam. Once you get in, the heartbreak subsides and you're left relaxing in the tub surrounded by spicy, earthy, fruity goodness. I felt relaxed and refreshed when I got out but best of all, smelled divine. This definitely prepares you for Christmas! I plan on stocking up on a few for myself and a few as stocking fillers.



Reggie is annoyed I didn't let him in the bathroom. He loves being curled up on the bath mat when I'm having a Lush bath!

Next up: Winter Bath!

Review: Pantene Aqua Light Shampoo & Conditioner

I used Pantene products a few years ago until my hair started reacting to it. I'd get flakes, my hair felt and looked lank and lifeless and it just stopped controling frizz. I stopped using it and started using just about everything else under the sun before returning to it last month after they launched their Aqua Light range. It was on offer at Boots so I picked up the shampoo and conditioner to give the brand a second chance.



I'm really glad I did. I love how this makes my hair feel. It's much more manageable now and I find I'm having less and less hair fall each week. What I like the most is that I'm using the shampoo and conditioner at the same rate as you only need a tiny bit of conditioner. I usually go through the conditioner much quicker and it bothers me when I've got a matching pair of products. I'm sure others are the same way. Right? No...no...you're alone on this one Chrissy.

What Pantene say:

"The new Aqua Light shampoo cleanses from root to tip rinsing off in seconds. Free of silicone and other heavy ingredients, it nourishes hair leaving a fresh, clean and light feeling.

The new Aqua Light conditioner nourishes your hair in a light way without weighing it down. Its innovative Clean Rinse formula is highly water-soluble and rinses off in seconds. Nourishment with zero residue and zero weight, you will see the difference from your first wash."

The shampoo lathers up very well and does rinse out quickly leaving a clean and refreshed feeling. My hair doesn't feel "squeaky" and stripped but doesn't feel silky smooth - which is where the conditioner comes in. I leave this on for 2-3 minutes while I'm sorting the rest of myself out. I rinse clean with lukewarm water and it really does rinse clean, leaving soft weightless hair, even when it's wet. The ends of my hair don't feel as nourished but I can fix that with a little serum after blowdrying. Packaging is nice and easy to use. Sometimes you get bottles whose caps are almost impossible to open without risking breaking a nail so props to Pantene for that.

I'd say that if one of your problems is lanky, weighed down hair - give this product a try and see how it goes. It's inexpensive and has had some good reviews (not just from me) so far.

8/10

Looking to try out the Lush shampoo bar I received as a prize. Review coming up when I've had a couple weeks use out of it!

Review: Lush Blackberry Bath Bomb

I have extensive experience with Lush's bath bombs though I do find myself favouring a few more than others: hello Butterball & Vanilla Fountain. This will be one of those I favour from now on.



What Lush say about Blackberry Bath Bomb:

"Bouncing blackberry.

With bergamot, frankincense and berries for uplifting, grounding and fruity feelings. When you're feeling off colour and out of sorts, drop this Ballistic of purply goodness into the bath.

Fruity and comforting.

The frisky scent of blackcurrants will tug at the corners of your mouth, pulling them towards your ears. Bergamot relieves tension and frankincense will wrap itself around you like a cosy blanket. All your cares will dissolve into a warming purple haze.

Bergamot oil

Bergamot oil is used to lift the spirits when you feel blue. "

I wasn't feeling particularly blue this evening but I certainly needed a little pick me up after battling with the weather of late. I popped this into the bath and watched while it fizzed and fizzed into a purple swirl of fizzy deliciousness. Did I mention it fizzes? I got in, slid down and savoured the silky smooth feeling of the water (though Vanilla Fountain is my fave for this! Feels like you're bathing in custard) then realised how gorgeous this smelled! You can absolutely pick up the bergamot and it really does have a calming effect. I soaked for about 30 minutes then topped up with hot water and did all the essential bits like...erm...washing, and soaked for another 15 mins. I got out and my legs went all jelly-like - it was brilliant! I spent the next 4 hours huddled up in a fleecy blanket watching Disney films.









And if the purple blanket isn't enough to make you smile: Boom Boom!

Keep one handy at all times - you'll need it in times of stress.

I'll also add that Reggie was scratching at the bathroom door and if my snobby little kitten-cat loves this - you will too!

Review: My Mascaras

What do I look for in a mascara? Volume and colour intensity. I've never been overly fussed about lengthening. I don't have particularly long lashes but I do have hooded eyes which makes super long eyelashes a pain in the bum sometimes as my mascara can transfer. Plus long lashes get in the way when I'm wearing my glasses or sunnies. Before you recommend an eyelash curler - I'm terrified of them!

These are the mascaras I'm currently using. It seems excessive but I do use them all and keep a note of when each one was opened so I know when to throw them out!



Without mascara. I have one eyelash that grows downwards - it's so annoying!



L-R: Rimmel Extra Super Lash, L'Oreal Voluminous, Bourjois Volume Clubbing, Rimmel The Max Volume Flash, Maybelline Great Last, Dior Diorshow Waterproof, CoverGirl LashBlast Volume, Dejavu Fiberwig Paint On False Lashes: Extra Long, Miss Sporty Studio Lash, Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl.

I applied one coat of mascara to the top lashes.

Rimmel Extra Super Lash: Lash Building Mascara in 103 Electric Blue





It's quite clumpy if you're not careful, not exceptionally lengthening and doesn't offer much volume but for a blue mascara which I rarely wear, it's decent. I like to wear this on my bottom lashes or just on the tips over black mascara. The wand is a standard cone shaped mascara wand.

Waterproof: No
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £4.79 at Superdrug

3/10

L'Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black





One of my favourite mascaras by far; I've repurchased this many times. This offers volume without clumping and is buildable. It's easy to apply and the wand isn't fussy or gimmicky.

10/10

Waterproof: No
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £7.99 at Superdrug (L'Oreal Perfection Voluminous Mascara Carbon Black)

Bourjois Volume Clubbing Mascara in Absolute Black





The wand is awkward. It has bristles down two sides, then a gap on the other two where mascara gathers. This mascara is very prone to clumping if you're not careful. I will say that once you get the hang of using this, it offers wonderful volume from the roots of your lashes. I use it by twisting the wand and pulling out while I apply it. It also takes a long time to dry.

4/10

Waterproof: Yes
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £7.99 at Superdrug

Rimmel The Max Volume Flash in 003 Ultra Black





I love this mascara! The wand is large but doesn't have bristles too close together so it offers great separation and length. Volume is great if you're quick and put a few coats on before it dries. I occasionally have this with various mascaras, but I prefer this when it's had a couple of weeks to dry out slightly. I'm the same way with Rimmel Sexy Curves and Diorshow.

8/10

Waterproof: No (a waterproof version is now available)
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £6.69 at Superdrug

Maybelline Great Lash in Very Black/Ultra Noir





A classic. It's been around for decades and there's a reason for it. This mascara offers a "my lashes but better" look. They look natural yet defined. I find myself going back to this time and time again as it's the perfect mascara to use on a "no makeup" day. The wand is standard and applies the product well. It's also quite small so is perfect for getting the small lashes in the inner corners.

8/10

Dior Diorshow Waterproof in 090 Black





Another mascara I find myself repurchasing. The wand is large and thick but because it is tapered, inner corner lashes aren't missed out. The waterproof forumula is a must for me. I didn't like the original Diorshow. A must for dramatic lashes.

Waterproof: Yes
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £21.50 at Boots

9/10

CoverGirl LashBlast Volume in Very Black





I'd wanted this for months and finally received it in a swap! I pulled the wand out and was unsure about how to use it. It definitely takes some getting used to but now that I've got the hang of it, I love it. With two coats I get thick, evenly separated lashes. It dries quickly and doesn't give me any hassle when I'm wearing sunglasses.

Waterproof: Yes
Easy to remove: Yes(ish)
Price: $6.94 at Target - I'm sure you'll be able to find it on eBay as well

9/10

Dejavu Fiberwig Paint On False Lashes: Extra Long





I've never really had great experiences with curved wands, but this mascara gives me thick, long and glossy lashes with minimal clumping. I'm unsure about whether this mascara is available in the UK as I was given this by a friend in Hong Kong.

Waterproof: No
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £8.80 at sasa.com

10/10

Miss Sporty Studio Lash in 001 Black





For the price, this is a fantastic mascara. It's by no means perfect but if you want a volumising buildable mascara on a budget; Studio Lash is your friend. It doesn't offer much in the way of length but like I said, it is buildable. It has a spiky plastic wand similar to the LashBlast but much, much smaller. Without a tapered end though, it's quite difficult to get to the corner lashes.

Waterproof: No
Easy to remove: Yes
Price: £2.99 at Boots

6/10

Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl





This is a mascara I picked up in Hong Kong but only recently opened. It has an hourglass shaped wand which works well for applying the product. It's also quite small so it grabs every lash. The colour isn't very intense, it clumps at the tips and it is impossible to get off without an oil based eye makeup remover. It doesn't offer much volume but it does curl well and the formula holds the curl all day.

Waterproof: Yes (nuclear wipeout proof too)
Easy to remove: No(oooooo)
Price: £7.40 at sasa.com

4/10

So there are some clear winners but everyone's preference is different. These are just my views on how well these mascaras fulfil my dream mascara criteria. Hope this can help someone!